A new chapter in digitalisation has begun in the Republic of Armenia.

On 31 October, a presentation of the new biometric passport and a ceremonial handover of the first passports took place at the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, senior officials and guests.

The event featured a distinctive combination of cultural and technological elements. Armenia’s history, rich cultural heritage, national identity and symbols of statehood, reflected in the pages of the new biometric passport, were presented in a unique format.

The presentation spanned a broad range of themes, from the Armenian alphabet and Hayk the Forefather to Erebuni; from historical and cultural monuments to modern state institutions; and from the scenic landmarks of Armenia’s natural landscape to the distinctive features of Armenian culture.

During the ceremony, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan handed the first biometric passport of the new design to Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

New biometric passports were also presented to President of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan and renowned conductor and composer Loris Tjeknavorian.

The participation of five young people who turned 16 on 31 October was also symbolic. They received their first passports—the new biometric documents—from the Prime Minister, thereby becoming active participants in the ceremony.

In his remarks, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan noted that the introduction of the biometric system should give fresh impetus to digitalisation in Armenia by expanding the range of services available to citizens. “Today’s event and biometric passports are about our state, and the state is about standards. Wherever there is a standard, there is undoubtedly a state, and today we are marking the issuance of a passport that meets all modern international standards,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, the new passports cannot be forged, which is also important for strengthening international confidence in Armenia and its citizens.

Addressing the simplification of border-crossing procedures, Nikol Pashinyan noted that automated e-gate systems are planned to be introduced at Armenia’s border crossing points, starting with Zvartnots Airport. These systems will enable citizens holding biometric passports to pass through border control independently.

Addressing the protection of citizens’ identities, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasised that, in an increasingly digital world, the biometric system must guarantee the security of individuals’ identities.

“The design of our passport reflects the millennia-long journey we have travelled, overcoming difficulties along the way, to reach this point: Real Armenia, the Republic of Armenia,” Nikol Pashinyan noted.

He also expressed his gratitude to all the partners who played a key role in the introduction of the system, particularly Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, and the partners from the IN Groupe consortium.

Addressing the Armenia–EU visa liberalisation process, the Prime Minister noted that the new biometric document system is of significant importance for the successful conclusion of the negotiations. He reaffirmed his determination to move forward in this area in order to expand opportunities for citizens to travel more conveniently.

“The passport, through its design, content and political message, will bring us closer to the awareness and conviction that our identity is our state, and our state is our identity,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

In her remarks, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan highlighted the importance of introducing next-generation biometric documents, stressing that a new qualitative benchmark is being set as the sector moves away from outdated infrastructure and enters a new phase of technological development.

According to the Minister, the initiative is an important component not only of the MIA’s reform agenda, but also of the Armenia–European Union visa liberalisation process. It is aimed at modernising the document issuance system, introducing documents that meet international standards, and improving the quality of services provided to citizens.

In this context, particular emphasis was placed on enhancing the security of identity documents, introducing reliable identity verification mechanisms, and ensuring the international mutual recognition of documents.

“Today, we are opening a new chapter in the history of identity documents in Armenia. In the modern world, an individual’s digital identity is one of the state’s most important values. It is our responsibility to ensure that this identity is protected, reliably verifiable and secure, both in Armenia and beyond its borders.

Armenia is joining the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) system, which ensures the international mutual recognition of passports. This means that our document issuance system is not only robust within the country, but also meets high international standards, ensuring the recognition of our documents worldwide,” Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan noted.

According to the Minister, implementing this public-private partnership model in Armenia required political will and consistent effort.

Arpine Sargsyan expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for consistently leading the process, maintaining regular communication with the team and paying close attention to the project’s details. She emphasised that his involvement had contributed significantly to achieving the outcome.

Minister Sargsyan also expressed her gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan for his support throughout the process, as well as to the partner companies IN Groupe and Corporación América.

The introduction of the new biometric passport is one of the key steps in modernising Armenia’s document issuance system. It is aimed at strengthening document security, ensuring compliance with international standards and improving the quality of services provided to citizens.